Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Laser Nostra Prototype, Part II

Limited Edition Prototype Laser Nostra Cinelli bicycle set to go under the hammer at Jony & Marc’s (RED) Auction on November 23rd

Two of the world’s foremost design pioneers, Sir Jonathan Ive, KBE, and Marc Newson, CBE, have
collaborated with musician and philanthropist Bono to organize a (RED) Auction celebrating the very best
of design and innovation. Jony and Marc have spent the past year and a half curating the collection,
which comprises objects from disciplines as diverse as space travel and lighting design to contemporary art
and rare automobiles, all unified and distinguished by their excellence and innovation. Proceeds from the
23 November 2013 sale at Sotheby’s New York will benefit The Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and
Malaria.

The auction will feature icons of design selected by Jony and Marc, including a Cinelli Prototype “Laser
Nostra” bicycle, singed by Cinelli President and bicycle designer, Antonio Colombo. This stunning, limited-
edition bicycle was ridden to victory in a major competition: in 2011, American Rider Neil Bezdek won the
Red Hook Criterium in Milan, the most famous fixed-gear competition in the world, riding this Laser Nostra
prototype. The design of Cinelli’s Laser was ground-breaking at the time of its release in 1980.

Made to address a singular problem - making its rider the fastest on the track - it reflects the intense
collaboration between designer Antonio Colombo and a team that included a frame builder, engineer,
physiologists, coaches, and numerous champion riders. This prototype, with its famous Columbus Niobium
steel tube and featuring a unique carbon fork, was created in 2011 for a special anniversary edition of 21
Laser bicycles released in 2012. This bicycle has been customised with old and new Columbus stickers.

"It's been a thrilling journey for Jony and me to curate this collection of pieces that celebrate extraordinary
design that we love, that transcends all boundaries of time and place. Each object and the process of
creating it conveys a rich set of human values, so it seems fitting that they should be auctioned with a
different sense of human value in mind, to raise as much as possible to help people's lives today," said Marc
Newson. “We'd like to thank our partners for their sincere generosity and for giving so gladly and willingly.”

The (RED) Auction collection goes on public exhibition at Sotheby’s New York beginning November, 18th.

Learn more about the second (RED) Auction through our Twitter hashtag #REDatSothebys

Reminder: I invite you to contribute by sending in photographs of your Cinelli bike, illustrations, personal stories, and articles about Cinelli bikes and components. I can be contacted at veronaman@gmail.com